Pilotage Act 1983

51 Facilities to be given for pilot getting on board and leaving ship

(1) The master of a ship (other than an excepted ship) which, in circumstances in which pilotage is compulsory under this Act, is not under pilotage as required in these circumstances, shall, if a licensed pilot of the district makes a signal for the purpose of offering his services as pilot, by any practical means consistent with the safety of his ship, facilitate the pilot getting on board the ship, and shall give the charge of piloting the ship to that pilot, or, if there are two or more licensed pilots offering at the same time, to such one of them as may, according to any byelaws for the time being in force in the district, be entitled or required to take charge of the ship.

(2) Where the master of a ship, whether in circumstances in which pilotage is compulsory or not, accepts the services of a licensed pilot, he shall, by any practical means consistent with the safety of his ship, facilitate the pilot and any assistant of his getting on board and subsequently leaving the ship.

(3) If the master of any ship fails without reasonable excuse to comply with the provisions of this section, he shall be liable on summary conviction in respect of each offence to a fine not exceeding—

(a) double the amount of pilotage charges that (disregarding any increase in the charges attributable to failure to comply with the requirements of byelaws in force in the district about requests for pilots) are payable in respect of the ship or would have been so payable if he had complied with those provisions, or

(b) in England and Wales and in Scotland, level 4 on the standard scale,

(c) in Northern Ireland, £500,

whichever is the greater.